Retrospect

Eurorack Composition

Composed and recorded on modular synthesizer system. Synth and piano improvisation was dubbed later in Logic Pro X. Mixed by myself in Logic Pro X. Mastered by Jeffrey de Gans at Da Goose Mastering.

Do Cyber Cats Dream of Electric Fish?

Ableton Live and Max/MSP Algorithmic composition

Cover Art: Jennifer Bartlett | Air: 24 Hours, Five P.M. (Glitched)

Suzhou 2050

Tidal Cycles Live Coding Piece

I always want to combine the music elements such as traditional opera from my hometown, Pingtan, and Kunqu to my music composition. I want to create something combining the future and past, modern and traditional. The idea of live coding and sample-based approach have the characteristic of "future" which fits perfectly with this aesthetics. Therefore, I use TidalCycle, the live coding environment which can use with a sample-based approach.

The overall technique is how to "loop" and "manipulate" the samples. They could be playing with different speed, different effects, and having different combination and permutation. First, I chop the source in small pieces of samples so I can manipulate them easily. I use a male vocal sample and randomized Chinese percussion instruments samples to start the piece. After that, I have Pingtan samples playing with random iteration to simulate Pingtan but with variation. With Pingtan samples playing I have some EDM beats created by default Superdirt samples. I use some panning effect on the Pingtan vocals and some other sample manipulating techniques to create glitchy and panning feelings. After the Pingtan part, we have the second section, which is more aggressive. I use "Akuma" samples to create the breakbeats gripping in the background on top of Guqin samples. When the piece reaches climax, I mute all the channels except for the male vocal for an interesting ending.

Picotera

Game Soundtrack

Picotera is a networked Unity VR experience based on HTC VIVE and Leap Motion. I am in charge of sound engineering, sound design, and scoring.

Demonstratum

Game Soundtrack

Demonstratum is a Unity game created by Georgia Tech’s own game development club(VGDev) in 2019 Spring. I was in charge of composition and sound design.

Transformative Narratives Scoring

Radio Program Scoring

Transformative Narratives is a new initiative from Georgia Tech Institute Diversity. Over the past years, members of the Georgia Tech community have begun to record their own stories, which are now being collected and exhibited by the university (see http://sdie.gatech.edu/transformative-narratives/). I did several scorings and sound designs for transformative narratives over the years. Here is one of them.